Monthly Archives: February 2013

Movie Theater Knitting

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I hate sitting still doing nothing. And I married a man who loves movies. See my dilemma? Insert movie theatre knitting projects. I generally favor ruffle scarves and stockinette projects.

In the last month the husband has taken me to see Flight with Denzel Washington and the Oscar nominated Life of Pi. I cast on a simple stockinette tube to make a case for my workout mat.

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Round and round she went in circles. Made with Sugar N Cream cotton in bright pink. I knit until I had a tube 2 inches longer than my mat and then started simple K2tog decreases to taper the end. I also threw in a few yarn overs in the 5th row to make eyelets to feed through a cord for a closure. Finished off with a garter strap for carrying.

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I could feel the stitches on my needles and therefore no need to have light to work. The tube was almost completely made in the theatre. The finishing bits I did complete at home with the aid of light. It stretched a bit in the strap but I don’t mind. It still keeps my mat from getting gunky. I also love that it’s washable cuz it takes quite a beating as I drag it back and forth to the gym.

What do you knit in the movies, or do you?

In Search Of Freshness

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This time of year I am left craving fresh food. Especially with all the winter and snow we have received the last two weeks. The vegetables and most fruits in the grocery store are sad looking. I’m tiring of soup and rice and canned goods. So to break my funk I’m kicking up my canned goods with anything fresh I can lay my hands on!

For lunch I pulled out some Campbell’s soup from my pantry:

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Chicken Quinoa with Poblano Peppers!

I found a nice ripe avocado tucked away in my fridge so I diced it and threw into my soup:

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The rich creaminess of the avocado really offset the heat of the poblano. The freshness also hit the right spot for my craving. I paired the soup with crisp sweet apple to give my meal something “crunchy”.

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This meal was very very filling. It was spicy, warm, creamy, crunchy, and everything I was looking for. I got fruit, veggies, healthy grains, and healthy fats. And by rough estimates, around 500 to 550 calories. A little more than I like to eat at lunch, but trying to move around outside in almost two feet of snow should burn some calories!

FO: Meredith’s Cowl

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After many trials and tribulations, I have a FO! And I’m very proud.

Mere’s present is finished. The two skeins of Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton in Berry Jam really fulfilled my wine inspiration. This unique cowl is worked in alternating bands of seed stitch and then YO lace work. It is worked in the round on 16″ circulars US size 8. It was a tight fit on the needles but I made it work. Thanks to my husband for tromping through two feet of snow to take pictures of this for me!!!

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As promised, I am launching this as a free pattern on Ravelry. You can find the pattern here!

And for those readers who don’t use Ravelry, I have posted the pattern below:

Meredith’s Cowl

Materials

– Lion Brand Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton – 2 skeins Berry Jam (approx 3.00 oz or 103 yds)

– US size 8 circular needle (16” or longer)

– Stitch marker

– Tapestry needle

Cowl

CO 150 sts using loop cast on method, careful not to twist. Place marker

1: Join in the round, and Knit to marker. (set up row)

Seed Stitch Section

2: *K1, P1, repeat from * to end

3: *P1, K1, repeat form * to end

4: Work row 2

Lace Section

5: *YO, K2tog, repeat from * to end

6: Knit

7: *K2tog, YO, repeat from * to end

8: Knit

9: *YO, K2tog, repeat from * to end

10: Knit

11: *K2tog, YO, repeat from * to end

Repeat rows 2 through 11 twice more.

Cast off LOOSELY in purl.

Weave in ends.

Resulting cowl is 48” long approximately 6” wide.

Knit and enjoy!

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Mere’s Cowl: A Do-Over

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Ok…..designing something fromscratch is both fun and aggravating. Mere’s cowl is kicking my knitting butt. I literally have started it three different times….and frogged each version.

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Guess the fourth time is the charm? (Aided by a large glass of wine last night….) I’m rocking and rolling now, hopefully have a FO soon!!

The snow hasn’t started, The Blizzard of Oz, part II is headed our way. I hope I can make it to and from work today. Pray or cross your fingers for me. Ill try to update on the snow later today, providing I survive and we have power…..

Happy Knitting!

Sunday Morning Adventures

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After getting much needed feedback yesterday on my “Where To Stop” dilemma, I made a yarn store run this morning. The husband was sleeping in after a late night of video gaming. I may be a yarn nerd but I married an extremely committed technology gaming nerd. My Chevron Blanket uses Loops N Threads Charisma yarn from Michaels. The store doesn’t open until 10 am on Sunday and I arrived 15 minutes early due to favorable traffic. I was amazed that I was not the first one there! I kid you not there were 8 to 10 cars parked and waiting for the store to open. Never under estimate the commitment of crafty people. I snagged my needed two skeins of yarn I needed to extend my blanket. I wanted three but the store was out of the royal blue (sad face). I did score some clearance Lion Brand Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton (happy face). I got out of the store before I put an even bigger dent in my pocket book.

Next stop was Sam’s Club. We needed supplies to stock up on before “Blizzard of Oz, part II”.  We got 10-12 inches of snow last Wednesday/Thursday in what they dubbed: The Blizzard of Oz. We are set for round two starting tonight and snowing through Tuesday morning. So far they are predicting another 10-14 inches. I picked up bottled water, food staples, and dog food in case we get snowed in for a couple of days. I have plenty of yarn to work through a hundred blizzards, but we’re not going to talk about that. Sam’s was packed and I ran into at least five people I knew. At least people are taking the storm seriously!

Last stop was Starbucks. A girlfriend gave me a gift card for baby sitting her baby girl so she and her husband could have some date night time last month. I don’t usually get Starbucks but I had the gift card and wanted to try their blonde roast. Again never under estimate the commitment of caffeine addicts. I had to park and go in because the drive through line was running 9 cars deep. Even with parking and walking I had my Venti Skinny Mocha’ Cafe in less than five minutes and back on my way. It was delicious by the way.

Having a little “me” time this morning was wonderful. I got to indulge my yarn addiction, my caffeine addiction, and get some chores done. Sometimes I just need to get out and about by myself to clear my head. I love spend time with my family and friends but I also like being independent. Now my husband has woken up and I am trying to convince him to take me for Thai food “because the storm is coming”, lol. Good excuse as any right?

Project Dilemma: When To Stop

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I have been chronicling my Chevron Blanket here, here, and here. This started as a baby blanket but I have to admit its morphed into more of a lap blanket, lol.

I am on my last skein of yarn and I’m torn. Right now the length covers from my toes to barely mid chest. If I were to add another color/pattern repeat of three more skeins it would comfortably reach my shoulders. The length and weight of the blanket make it difficult to work. This makes half of me want to just be done with project and move on to other WIPs. But I really want to make this blanket useable and therefore the other half of me wants to buy three more skeins of yarn and keep going.

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So I putting this out there to ask for opinions from readers. Thoughts anyone?

Snow Day Pork Stew

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Since I was home yesterday I decided to throw together some hearty stew to keep us warm after shoveling snow.

I started with:
– 2 frozen cubed pork steaks
– 2 cups baby carrots
– about a cup of caramelized onions leftover from another day
– I can cream of chicken soup
– 1 can progresso meal starters, creamy mushroom flavor
– 1 to 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
– 1 package of red pepper flake from pizza delivery
– salt and pepper to taste

I mixed all the ingredients except the pork, salt, and pepper together in my crock pot until well combined. I them added the pork and covered with sauce mixture. I cooked on low for 7 hours or until pork is fork tender.

Pull out the pork and cut into hearty sized chunks:

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Stir remaining sauce mixture and taste. Add salt and pepper to taste:

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Combine all ingredients back together!

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We served over some whole grain rice steamed with half water and half chicken stock. The soup is very hearty and rustic with the large chunks of pork and whole baby carrots. It would have been better with potatoes, but I am trying to use more whole grain sources and less starchy vegetables.

The creaminess of the soup and starter play well against the spiciness of the red pepper flake. The carrots were fork tender and the caramelized onions added a much richer texture than just adding raw uncooked onions. This recipe was very very filling and just what a snow day needed!

All in all not a bad made up on the fly recipe.

It Is Upon Us

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The storm is upon us! I got up and tried to get to work (being one of the few businesses still open) I had the road to myself. Problem was visibility…I couldn’t see anything in front of me! I called my boss and asked permission to work from home.

Now I have a cup of coffee at my husbands desk reading morning reports. I hope to finish these soon so I get get some good snow storm knitting done!

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It’s snowing sideways at 2 inches per hour. But my pantry is stocked and (fingers crossed) we still have electricity. I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thursday!

A Present for Mere

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A very dear friend recently asked for a soft lightweight cowl in red. So I pursued Ravelry and just didn’t find anything worthy of Mere. She has gorgeous pale skin with dark cocoa colored hair.

Mere and I share a love of wine, so I pulled two skeins of Lion Brand Natures Choice Organic Cotton in variegated reds and browns. The reds remind me of the different colors of red wine and the browns will pop against her hair.

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And away I went! I cast on about 210 sts and I plan on working back and forth between lace sections and stockinette sections. If this design works out I hope to launch this as a free design here on my blog and on Ravelry.

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This is my purse/public knitting project, so I hope it will go quickly! I can’t wait to see Mere wearing it. She is gorgeous in anything but I love that she adores my hand knits!

Happy Knitting!

Stashbustin’ #10

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I’m crazy….I have WIP-itis! I was so in love with my finished Zig Zag Baby Blanket and the beautiful chevrons I had to cast on another. This time I’m opting for chevrons more like the ones from my Waves N Ripples Blanket. I like the solid fabric feel, not that the lace detail isn’t lovely. I think solid fabric is just more suitable for a blanket. (Just my opinion…don’t shoot the blogger)

I’m improvising the design using soft pink and bright white cottons. This blanket is definitely destined for a baby girl. I have so many WIPs that I’m not sure where it falls in the queue, lol. But for now it’s in my “couch” knitting spot!

Happy Knitting!